A much loved, quintessentially English artist, John Piper (1903-1992) had unbounded curiosity, intensity of vision and a huge capacity for work. It is telling that, in his day, he found the design school at the Royal College of Art more interesting than the painting school as he went on to become one of the most technically versatile artists of his time. Although best known as a topographical painter and printmaker, he also designed for many applied arts including textiles, stained glass, pottery, stage scenery and costumes as well as being a prolific illustrator of his own, and other people's, books and articles.

This exciting exhibition of gouaches, prints, ceramics and textiles incorporates many of the different genres to which Piper found himself drawn throughout his artistic career, from landscapes, ancient churches, historic houses, castles and ruins to Romanesque carvings and still life flowers.